This week I would like to take a look at one of literature's
most beloved, and well known, characters of which several book series, movies,
two television shows and now a stage play have been based. Ladies and
Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Black Beauty, a beautiful,
intelligent, lightening fast, black horse.
Now if you’re like me and have (admittedly) never read the
Ann Sewell novel “Black Beauty” then the 1972 British children's television
drama series is the perfect introduction into the wonderful world of Black
Beauty.
The series, which was shown by ITV in the United Kingdom
between 1972 and 1974, was produced by London Weekend Television and
distributed internationally by London Weekend International. And even though
this wonderful series first premiered in the UK in the early 1970’s it became a
part of Classic (80’s) Nickelodeon when the network aired it in the very early
to the mid 1980’s
In a "continuation" of the Anna Sewell novel we
first meet Black Beauty in the series premier “The Fugitive” where Samson Ryder
is breaking in his uncle’s horses. Beauty throws Samson then runs away and is
discovered by Vicky and Kevin Goren while they are exploring their new
surroundings. Beauty has been badly beaten, his eye is infected and he has the
chills after his long run.
The children take him home for their father, widower Dr.
James Gorden, to mend but when Samson discovers that the Gordens have ‘his
horse’ he attempts to reclaim him only to find out that he must recover before
the doctor will allow him to be moved. But of course by this time the children
have fallen in love with him and beg their father to buy him from the Ryders,
which he is unable to do because of the horse’s great value.
By the end of the first episode Dr. Gorden saves the life of
old Mr. Ryder and in return Mr. Ryder gives the black horse to the Gorden
family. It is at the end of this first episode that Vicky names him claiming
that his name should, “describe him”, thus settling on the name “Black Beauty”.
From that point on the series focuses on the Gorden Family
and their everyday life as they do their best to help their friends and
neighbors, always with the aid of Black Beauty.
As stated above Dr. James Gorden is a widower but has
employed a strong, but kind-hearted, woman named Amy Winthrop as his
housekeeper. Very little is actually known about either of these characters but
in the second season we are introduced to Ned Lewis who is Amy’s nephew. It is
also in this second series where we are introduced to Dr. Gordon’s second
daughter Jenny, “who has been away at school and has only just returned”
however we do not see Victoria again.
The show was cancelled in 1974 but in 1990 new life was
breathed into the series with the arrival of “The New Adventures of Black
Beauty” which, like it’s predecessor, lasted a full two seasons from 1990-1992
however it is only the first season which is directly tied to the original
series picking up 20 years after the first series. It stared Stacy Dorning and
William Lucas reprising their roles as Dr. Jenny (Gordon) Denning and Dr. James
Gordon with both actors appearing in the first season only from 1990-1991 for a
total of 26 episodes.
Both series featured the theme song, "Galloping
Home", which was written by Denis King and performed by the London String
Chorale and both are currently available on DVD.
Personal Note:
I remember watching this on Nickelodeon in the very early
1980’s so I was around 12 or 13 when I use to watch it. Back then I liked it
because Beauty was a beautiful black horse, Vicky and Jenny were pretty young
girls who I wanted as my friends or sisters, Kevin, Ned and Albert were kinda
cute and Dr. Gorden was so handsome. It was the perfect show for girls of that
age but now that I’m an adult I still think all of those things but now I can
see what I didn’t back then.
This show wasn’t just entertaining, it was educational as
well, it taught children how to respect their elders (something that they are
very lax in these days), it taught them not to lie no matter what the
consequences, it taught them to always be kind to animals and not to be afraid
to get involved and help your neighbors. This is one of the most wholesome
shows that I would personal allow my children, whenever I have some, to sit and
watch all day if they wanted too because of the strong moral values it
contains.
Original Series Main Cast
Dr. James Gordon – William Lucas (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Amy Winthrop – Charlotte Mitchell (52 episodes, 1972-1974)
Kevin Gordon – Roderick Shaw (51 episodes, 1972-1974)
Squire Armstrong – Michael Culver (31 episodes, 1972-1974)
Vicky Gordon – Judi Bowker (26 episodes, 1972-1973)
Jenny Gordon – Stacy Dorning (25 episodes, 1973-1974)
Police Constable Dickins – Kenneth Thornett (16 episodes,
1972-1974)
Albert Clifton – Tony Maiden (14 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ned Lewis – Stephen Garlick (11 episodes, 1973-1974)
Main Cast – New
Adventures of Black Beauty
Dr. Jenny Denning – Stacy Dorning (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Manfred Groenwald – Gedeon Burkhard (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dr. James Gordon – William Lucas (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Victoria 'Vicky' Denning – Amber McWilliams (26 episodes,
1990-1991)
Frank Coats – David Bradshaw (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Hilda Burton – Ilona Rodgers (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Samuel Burton – Bill Kerr (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Isambard – Claire
Chitham (9 episodes, 1990)
Constable Carmody – Andrew Robertt (5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lewis Duncan – Timothy Raby (3 episodes, 1990)
Farmer – Bruce Hopkins (3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lord Fordham – Frederick Treves (2 episodes, 1990)
Nigel – Christian Burgess (2 episodes, 1990)
